A Congregation Older Than the Nation

Did you know that the oldest Lutheran church in the Americas is an LCMS congregation in New York City? The Rev. Peter A.D. Deebrah (Pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Matthew in New York City) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his journey from Guyana to New York City, how he became pastor of St. Matthew, the incredible history of St. Matthew beginning in the 1600s, how the congregation has both changed and stayed the same over 360 years, and how St. Matthew serves the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. Read more about the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Matthew in Lutherans Engage: engage.lcms.org/oldest-congregation-summer-2025. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: [email protected].